David Chen (Shi-chung), age 100, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 14, 2024 at his home in Ponte Vedra, Florida. He was born on May 12, 1924 in Taipei, Taiwan. He obtained his Bachelor of Theology from Taiwan Theological College and Seminary in 1947. The following year, he served with his father at Suang-lien Presbyterian Church in Taipei. In 1948 he went to Knox College in Toronto, Ontario, Canada for further studies. In 1953, he served as Minister at Burgoyne Presbyterian Church, Ontario, followed with Ordination by the Presbytery of Brandon, Canada. He obtained his Bachelor of Divinity from Knox in 1954. From there he went to the Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, New Jersey for various studies, with particular emphasis on John Calvin. In December 1954, he married Margaret, his life partner. She was studying at Westminster Choir College in Princeton as well. After he obtained his Master of Theology from Princeton in 1955, he and Margaret went to serve the First Presbyterian Church in Doniphan, Missouri for two years and then went back to Taipei to teach at the Taiwan Theological College and Seminary. As a professor, he taught systematic theology, Christian ethics, and world religions. By this time, he had one child and another on the way. A great opportunity arose in 1963 when he was invited with scholarship to study at the Union Theological Seminary in New York City. He accepted that opportunity and obtained his Master of Sacred Theology in 1965. In that same year, he went to the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California and in 1968, obtained the celebrated degree of Doctor of Theology. With this title in hand, he was appointed the President of the Taiwan Theological College and Seminary at which he served through 1971. Eventually, the entire family moved to the United States and David was to serve the community of Ridgewood, New Jersey, through the First Reformed Church, as the Reverend Dr. David Chen for 20 years. He retired in 1991. In his spare time, he was a devoted fan of Yankee baseball, never missing a game. He also loved gardening and fishing trips with the family. Most of all, he loved food and cooking (which he learned from his mother at a young age). He had a keen interest in science, politics and current events that he maintained well into his late nineties.
David is survived by his wife Margaret and his son John, both from Ponte Vedra, Florida; his daughter Shirley, Altoona, Iowa; his grandson Jeffrey, Woodland Hills, California; his granddaughter Victoria, Des Moines, Iowa, and four great-granddaughters.
In lieu of a memorial service, the family has chosen to share some memories of their beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. We ask that everyone feel free to share their own memories of him.
